Quote:
Originally Posted by SnorkleCat
Hi all...I need a couple of pointers on how to correctly pronounce the names of some Scandinavian composers and musicians. Perhaps write them to rhyme with English words?
Norwegian composer: Geirr Tveitt
Finnish Composer: Taneli Kuusisto
Finnish Composer: Leevi Madetoja
Swedish Composer: Gunnar de Frumerie
Swedish Composer: Ture Rangstrom (with dots over the O)
Thanks in advance! I hate butchering people's names, especially on the radio.  |
Quote:
Originally Posted by Giligan
That reiminds me, every time Gunnar Harboe posts an article, I'm always sent into a state of wondering at how you pronoune it. Is it "Gunn-er?" "Gunn-ar?" "Goo-nar?"
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Unfortunately there's no way to pronounce it "correctly" in English, because the Scandinavian languages use different sounds that don't exist in English. I tend to say "GUNNer" with the E tending slightly towards an A, but I have friends who use "gooNAAR", and I'm fine with either.
In comment on Trumgottist's audio clip, the pitch pattern would be slightly different in Norwegian, and the U would be less like a short "oo" and a bit more like the French "une".
As for "Geirr Tveitt", the "ei" diphthong falls somewhere between "Gyre Tvyte" and "Gayr Tvayt". Norwegian dialects differ somewhat on this point, but in Oslo it's pronounced "æi", as the vowel in "bad" followed by an I. In some southern English dialects (cockney?) you would hear a very similar diphthong in "bathe".